Editor’s note: This article was first published in September 2010, during the economic crisis, which it describes as something to get through until the crisis is over.
You have to admit there’s one business that hasn’t stopped growing during the crisis. New ideas have increased its profitability, however much competition has appeared. While I’m no fan of this business, it’s true that for many people it’s a great temporary way out until the crisis is over.
We’re talking about telephone consultation lines for all kinds of questions: birth charts, love readings, predictions about your personal and working future and, lately, they’ve even become financial agents. Yes, you heard that right. Given how volatile the markets are, many investors call these lines before making an investment. They know the advice they get will be right about as often as any financial analyst’s, so if the investor also believes in these services, the job is done.
The business is very simple. All you have to do is sign up with a line, advertise, describe your specialty and wait for the calls, which won’t be in short supply, though whether that’s fortunate or unfortunate, I can’t say.
In the United States, the number of “esoteric advisers” has grown, and they’ve set up proper practices, both over the phone and seeing clients in person at an office. An analyst studies charts; here, you invest wherever the cards or the crystal ball say. The most astonishing thing is that they’re succeeding because they’re getting it right more often than the analysts themselves.
As the saying goes, “the less you know, the better,” and in this case it holds true.
So this is the profitable business idea we’re proposing today: an esoteric adviser, by phone or in person, with a wide range of services and specialties (cards, tarot, finance, love, work). Anything clients want to hear so they can go home with peace of mind.
Remember: we don’t endorse this kind of business, as it borders on deception. While these businesses have more than proven they can be profitable, it’s also true that the best way to judge how deceptive or professional they are is to remember that the person on the other end of the phone, or receiving you in their consulting room, could be you or one of your neighbors. Anyone can get into this business. On the other hand, if it’s a good business idea and it’s profitable, someone has to do it.
Further reading
- Business ideas: services for companies
- Business ideas: home services
- How to start a business with no money
- The only secrets to getting rich (there are no others)
Featured image: Scott Swigart, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
